John calvin rankin



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, JOHN CALVIN RANKIN,l OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK. y

Letters Patent No. 100,803, dated ll/'Iafrclcl 15, 1870.

The Schedule 'referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same tion.

This invention has for its object the obtaining of a device for securing clothes-lines in a iixed position while irl-use, and one which may be manufactured at aytritling cost, admit of the line being applied to it with the simplest` manipulation possible, and capable of heilig attached to any ordinary fixture, such as the j `picket of a fence, the side of a building, a post, tree,

Ste., and be efficient in all cases.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the clothes-line cleat, as hereinafter set forth.'

In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 2, a side view of the same.

Figure 3, a face or front viewof the same.

Similarletters of reference indicate correspomling To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it. i

The shape of my improved cleat is shown clearly in the drawings. 1t is composedof two tine's or prongs, a a, and a pendent projection, b, all ot" which extend from a cent-ral portion, c,.through which a screw, d,

passes, to secure it to the fixture A. y

This central portion has spurs, c, (three, more or less,) which project from its inner surface, and penetrate the fixture when the device is screwed toit, preventing `any turning ofthe same on the screw. These i spurs are represented by dotted lines in figs. 2 and 3.

The `tincs or prongs and the pendent projection l) `rextendont angularly or obliqnely from the central portion c, `as shown clearly in fig. 2, so as to form spaces,

into which they line, rope, or cord B may be inserted.

,(see figs. land 2.)

The application is as follows;

The line, rope, or cord is inserted behind one tine or prong a., passed down and behind the pendent projection b, and thence upward and behind theother tine or prong a, as shown clearly in tig. 1. iVhen thus applied, the friction caused by the wedging or crowding of the 1ine,rope, or cord in the angular spaces between the tines or prongs, the pendent projection, and the fixture vis sufficient to hold said line, rope, or cord, and any strain to which it may be subjected will only tend to secure it more tirmly. 1t is not necessary, however, in ordinary cases, in order to secure the line, to pull upon it after it is applied to the device. The

.simple application of it, as described, will be snfiicient -for the purpose.

This invention may -be manufactured ata triling cost, being of ordinary cast-iron, japanued or galvanized, to prevent oxidation. One screw only is required to secure it to the fixture. The `spurs prevent it from'` turning on the screw. l

It is not necessary, in order to secure the line, that a long piece be allowed to hangloose at one end. Two

inches iu lengt-h for the loose end will generally be sufticient.

- It does not make any difference as regards the direction -in which the line may be subjected to' strain or tension. The latter maybe in the same plane with the face of the iixture A, or more or less angular therewith. It will be held secure in all cases, and without danger of being cut or chafed, as there will be no appreciable movement of the line around the prongs and pendent projection.

Having thusdescribed my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi The construction of the clothes-line holder witlritsv c. RANKIN. 

